![Dr. Larissa Malone](https://usm.maine.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/12/news-featured-image_Larissa.jpg)
Dr. Larissa Malone was awarded a multi-year grant for Maine Black Educators Collective (MBEC), a total of $45,000, $15,000 in each of the next 3 years, as part of the Grants4Change Program through Maine Initiatives. MBEC’s mission is to support Black educators in the state of Maine through educational opportunities and socio-emotional connection. As part of the selected cohort, Dr. Malone will participate in a three-year program of activities designed to increase MBEC’s organizational capacity, visibility, and sustainability. MBEC was selected through a participatory, community-based grantmaking process that involved over 300 community volunteers and was chosen because of its commitment to advancing racial justice work and strengthening community-building efforts statewide.